Zlatan out of Barca clash

PARIS ST-GERMAIN striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is unfit to play against former club Barcelona in the Champions League today.
The Sweden captain, 32, has missed the French champions’ last two Ligue 1 matches with a heel injury.“Several tests conducted on the injured left heel of Zlatan Ibrahimovic is negative,” said a PSG statement.

PSG drew their Group F opener against Ajax, while Barcelona edged to a 1-0 win against Apoel Nicosia.

The French team are unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions this season, but six of those results have been draws.

In contrast, Barcelona have been in clinical form as they lead the early Spanish league table.

The Catalan club, who thrashed Granada 6-0 on Saturday, have dropped just one point in their six La Liga games, scoring 17 goals and conceding none.

Brazil forward Neymar and Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored five goals between them against Granada as the pair illustrated their growing understanding on the pitch.

Neymar scored a hat-trick, while Messi’s double saw him pass 400 career goals for club and country.

“My first year was a case of adaptation but I now feel better and able to perform at a higher level,” said Neymar, who arrived at Barcelona from Santos in June 2013.

“We are combining more as a pair and I am very happy with the goals I am getting at the moment, which is down to the work of the team.”

Barca boss Luis Enrique, who took over from Tata Martino in the summer, sits in the opposite dugout to ex-Nou Camp team-mate Laurent Blanc. The pair played 33 games together in Barca colours during the 1996-97 season, helping the club win the European Cup Winners’ Cup, Copa Del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.

Meanwhile, Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta could make his 100th Champions League appearance for the Catalans in Paris. — BBC Sport

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